Improvement



AUGUSTUS W. THORNTON, OF OAKLAND, AND MARTIN VICE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING OAR-LOCKS.

Specffication forming part of Letters Patent No. 16$,HH5, dated May 11, 1875; application filed February 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUGUSTUS W. THORN- TON, of Oakland, California, and IIIARTIN VICE, of city and county of San Francisco, State of California, haveinvented an Adjustable Rowlock; and we do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use our said inven tion without further invention or experiment.

Our invention relates to an improvement in rowlocks, such as are employed for propelling boats; and it consists in hinging or otherwise securing them to a plate which is secured inside the gunwale of the boat, so that they can be folded down, overlapping each other, and thus leave the gunwale perfectly smooth. WVhen standing upright, the rowlocks fit into slots in a back plate or stop, which serves to retain them with sufficient resisting power against the force of the oar, and at, the same time prevent them from being wrenched ofi' by any side strain.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our rowlock, with the pins standing up ready for use. Fig. 2 shows the part folded down.

A is the gunwale of a boat, and B isa plate, which is so made that it can be screwed or otherwise fastened to the inner face of the gunwale. The two parts of the rowlock C and D, which are technically known as the thole-pin and stopper, a1 e secured to theinner face of the plate B near its lower edge by stout pins, so as to stand vertically or lie down below the level of the upper edge of the plate, as shown in Fig. 2. A lug, E, is fixed to the lower edge of the plate midway between the pins C and D, and when they lie down one of them rests upon this lug, while the other overlaps the first one.

In order to retain the rowlocks in a vertical position, and resist the action of the car in rowing, the plate B is provided with stout stops F, which project from it behind each of the rowlocks when they stand in a vertical position, and thus prevent them moved beyond that point.

As there is often a strong side wrench or from being about which they can be turned,

twist upon the rowlocks, caused by the turnin g of an oar in the lock, it will be necessary to strengthen them against this twist, and for this purpose we make each rowlock with a projecting rib, G, along its back, and the stops F have a corresponding groove in them, so that the rib enters the groove when the rowloeks are in a vertical position.

As the stops F extend up to a level with the top of the gunwale, it will be seen that the rowlocks are as firmly hcldin place as if fixed in the gunwale itself.

In practice, the pins upon which the rowloclrs turn are strengthened by passing through the flange of the stop F, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to protect the top of the gunwale against the action of the oar, we either fix a plate, H, upon it, or preferably make the plate B with an extension at right angles with itself, which will lie upon the gnnwale when the device is fixed in place.

It will thus be seen that when the oars are to be used the rowlocks can be set upright, and when the oar isin place will be prevented fromfalling, but when not in use they can be folded down, so as to lie one above the other, fore and aft, inside theline of the gunwale, thus leaving the latter with a perfectly smooth surface, not liable to catch upon anything passing the edge of the boat, or to endanger the rowlocks themselves and the whole device can be easily removed, if desired.

We are aware that rowlocks with folding thole-pins have heretofore been used hence we do not claim this, broadly; but,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The angle-plate B, arranged to fit the gunwale A, in combination with the recessed stops F F and thole-pins C and D, constructed with projecting ribs G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands and seals.

A. w. THORNTON. [L. s.] MARTIN vron. [L. s]

Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, JNO. L. Booms. 

